Smut-machine



L. FAGIN Grain Cleaner Patented MarchM, 1854.

[nus/221m N. PETERS. momLilho u lm. Washington. D.(:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS FAGIN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIOQ SMUT-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1 0,650, dated March 14, 1854.

vertical machine, combining on one shaft a, smut and scouring apparatuscapable of ejecting the smut, chaff, &c., from wheat before scouring itfor flouring purposes, and

also of retaining the scattered grains and returning the same into thescouring department again and thoroughly scouring the whole withtheleastliability to break the wheat, so that it becomes pearled to aconsiderable extent before it finally passes out at the place ofdelivery.

The operation of this machine is that of pearling rather thanbreakingand therefore it causes the grain to be kept constantly rollingin a vertical position with such great rapidity that each graineffectually scours the fuzz from the ends of the adjoining grains andalso at different intervals during the scouring process, causing thedust, &c., to escape through openings for that purpose, as soon asscoured loose therefrom; and finally deliver the article unbroken andfree from the tenacious adherence of smut; a result absolutelyindispensable to successful milling and which is fully attained by mymachine; and furthermore the whole work is performed on one shaft; towit, 1st, it separates the smut, chaff, &c., from the wheat prior to thecommencement of the scouring process and afterward thoroughly scours thesame with the least liability to break the wheat.

(A) is the shaft; (B) the arms of the suction fan (C). The arms (B) areattached to the upper end of an open cylinder (D), the lower end ofwhich is attached, by arms and collar (E), to the shaft (A).

(F) is the circular hopper, having a small cylinder or feed pipe (G)attached thereto, which projects down two feet (more or less) inside ofthe cylinder (D), so that by their lapping each other they admit of anydegree of elevation (for the purpose of suction) which it may be foundnecessary to give to the throat ,Which is a section of an nverted sheetiron cone of great altitude. This throat. (H) connects the casing (I) ofthe suction fan (above) to the casing (T) p of the upper or stationarycast iron scouring cone (K). This cone (K) consists of a series (saythree) of cones joined by' perforated terraces (L). The cone (K) has aflange at its base and is bolted to the flange of an inverted cast ironcone The cone (K) is also surmounted with an inverted conical sheet ironcollar, shaped like the throat (H), and is marked (K'). There is also aconical sheet iron guide, marked (K) shaped like the casing (T), whichsits on the lower perforated terrace ofthe cone (K) so that currents ofair are'allow'ed to pass up along it, both inside and out. The

object of the guide (K) is to conduct, or

rather guide back, into the scouring department any grain that mayperchance be drawn up the throat (H), by the suction, and over the topof the collar The runner cone (N) is attached to the shaft (A) at apoint suitable to bring its outer face in a position to work or act withthe inner face of the cone (K) and has the same characteristics as toperforated terraces, marked (0). The inside face of the cone (K) exceptits terraces (L) are indented with small grooves horizontally to thebaseand in like manner the entire face of the cone (N) and its terraces (O)are grooved.

So also is the inner surface of the inverted cone made rough in asimilar manner.

There is a forcing fan (P) attached to the shaft (A) within the invertedcone (M) 'which acts as a fan and beater combined.

The shaft (A) is suitably headed in the arch (Q) and is properly steppedbelow as at (R) with an adjusting screw (S) for the purpose of elevatingor lowering the same. An inverted wire cone or funnel may be fit-. tedinto the lower end of the inverted cone (M) for the twofold purpose ofadmitting airand of gathering the cleaned grain.

This machine may be run from 400 to 800 revolutions per minute. Thelatter motion will clean from 75 to 100 bushels per hour. The grain isfed at the center through the hopper (F) and passes down through thefeed-pipe (G) and as it passes out of the cylinder (D) is distributed ina circle (of about 15 inches diameter) by the motion of the machine,which puts it at once and suddenly within the range or action of thesuction fan (above). The instant therefore this is done, the smut,chafi', &c., are elevated from the wheat and carried up and out by thesuction, (between the cylinder (D) and collar (K)), the specific gravityof the grain causing it to pass down between the runner and stationarycones (N) and (K), the surfaces of which are made rough with horizontalgrooves and perforated terraces as before stated, the action of which onthe grain, aided by the blast or suction of air operates to keep thegrain rolling in a vertical position with such great rapidity that eachgrain efi'ectually scours the fuzz from the ends of its neighbors, andotherwise throws the grain upward obliquely in such a manner as toretain it in this part of the machine (certainly) vthree or four timesas long as ordinary smutters do and when the grain has arrived at thefull width of the machine it isthen compelled to passover the surface ofan inverted cone made rough as before stated, the forcing fan (P) actingas heaters and fan combined and driving it (the grain) around in andover the grooves (obliquely) with great velocity,

,the specific gravity of the grain being all that causes it to pass downover the grooves (obliquely) toward the center (the point of delivery)and therefore is retained for a length of time in the lower part of themachine also, and is thoroughly cleansed before it finally passes out.This machine is propelled by a belt over the pulley (J).

and horizontal therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis- 1. My method (or its substantial equivalent) of arranging a blowingapparatus,

where the upper or suction fan takes the air at the center anddischarges on the periphery, to precede (on the same shaft) a scouringmill, for the purpose of taking from grain, the smut, chaff, &c.,.beforethe scouring process is commenced and afterward thoroughly scour thesame; thus constituting the cleansing and scouring processes the duty ofa single machine, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

2. I also claim the cylinder (D), hopper (F), and feed pipe (G) asarranged, or their equivalents, and for the purpose described.

3. I also claim the collar (K) as arranged and for the purposedescribed.

4:. I, also claim the guide (K) as arranged and for the purposedescribed.

5. I also claim the scopring cones sev erally and collectively withtheir circular grooves and perforated terraces, or their equivalent, andin combination with the conical fan and beaters (P) substantially asdescribed and for the purposes enumerated.

LEVVIS FAGIN. Witnesses:

L. A. HARRIS, S. L. MARCHAN'E.

